| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 15/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 10 |
| Copyright: Other |
Retailers should unite against operators’ direct-sell practice
THE DIRECT-SELL telephone numbers in brochures issue has now reached a new level. Why should we accept these blatant attempts to steal business?We cannot stop operators printing anything in their brochures but we can change the way we deal with them.
We can either refuse to rack them or better still we could charge operators for shelf space.
At the Worldchoice conference last month, the theme was change but what are agents changing?
We own our own offices, why do we not lease out the shelf space to operators who insist on pushing direct sales? It will not cover all the lost commission but it would bring an income that will cover the time spent on clients who benefit from our experience and then book direct.
If sufficient agents worked together, operators would get the message that we are not the tame people they thought we were.
The consortia tell their members we are strong, we can influence the operators. Well now is the time to start to bring that influence to bear for the benefit of their members.
G FRoberts
Choice Travel
Wallingford